3:40pm: Patino’s contract has been selected to the Major League roster, per a club announcement. Righty David Bednar was optioned to the Padres’ alternate training site in a corresponding move.
12:10pm: The Padres are set to promote top pitching prospect Luis Patino. It appears the ADN Barranquilla Twitter account first posted the news, which has since been confirmed by other outlets.
Patino is just twenty years of age, but he’s widely considered one of the most electric young arms in baseball. He’s expected to work out of the bullpen to begin his tenure, MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell tweets.
Though he lacks extensive experience in the upper minors, Patino did reach Double-A last year after an impressive run at the High-A level. He’s still ironing out his full secondary arsenal, but possesses the kind of elite stuff that ought to play right out of the gates, especially in a relief role.
The 2020 season sprint creates opportunity for the Friars, who have started out with a nice 7-4 stretch. The up-and-coming club is hoping to hit on a variety of talented but fairly inexperienced players. Patino now joins that mix.
The timing of the promotion is such that Patino cannot accrue enough service time to reach a full year. Accordingly, the San Diego club can control his rights through at least 2026. He will, however, likely qualify for arbitration after the 2022 campaign as a Super Two player — if he can grasp ahold of a permanent roster spot from this point forward.
i think this is rushing him a bit
Whatever, it’s 2020. Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
I definitely agree with that statement. If Francisco Lindor is ever traded next year by the Indians at the deadline this kid might definitely be a piece going back to Cleveland. He’s that good. And he’s only 20 years old.
I doubt they trade Patiño for a two-month rental but this is Preller we’re talking about.
@MikeEmbletonSmellsBad- If the Friars would be able to re-sign Lindor after a trade with the Indians, then it would definitely be worth it then for SD.
@Yank4Life no they could sign him without trading for him.
When has Preller played the rental game?
@tootsandstuff Justin Upton and Freddy Galvis. Also declined to trade Jhoulys Chacin and Craig Stammen at the 2017 trade deadline.
Yea Padre fan they are signing another high priced 300 mil contract
Where does Lindor play in S.D.??? Tatis at short, Machado at 3B, waste Lindor at 2B?? For real? And give up Patino for a rental??
@tootsandstuff Tatis (the statistical worst defensive shortstop in the game in 2019) would move to 2B or CF or be traded in this scenario while Lindor would take over at SS.
I don’t want to see it, but I’d be really interested to see what kind of package the Padres could trade Tatis for. That package would have to be massive. Straight up for Wander Franco? Lol
I think both teams would rather just roll with “their” guy than trade him for some other team’s guy. As it is, Tatis is more “proven” but also has a not-insignificant injury history and is at least two (possibly three) years closer to free agency than Wander Franco.
If Tatis does get traded it will be in a few years if they have a replacement already in house and ready to go and have failed in their endeavors to extend him and the return will likely be a package headlined by a top prospect or post-prospect who fills a need.
Oh I definitely agree, it’s just an interesting thought exercise to think just what his value would be if the Padres traded him right now. Baseballtradevalues says he’s got a very similar value to Franco, or could net Snell and Adames.
Just how much would a team pay for a talent like Tatis? Would be interesting to postulate.
2 1/2 years ago the Mets thought they could get both Tatis and Paddack for Syndergaard. Now? Who knows, but I don’t think anyone will give us what he is worth. Teams will offer us their spare parts They always do.
The Mets didn’t want to trade Syndergaard. They were holding out for a Shelby Miller-esque overpay.
The grass is not always greener on the other side of the hill. Franco for Tatis? Tatis has already shown he can hit in mlb. And hit for power. And steal bases. Franco is a PROSPECT. Sure he has an 80 hit tool. So did Guerrero, and Tatis seems to be outhitting him pretty soundly. Urias had a 70 hit tool. It means nothing until they show it in the majors. Also, Franco’s speed doesn’t even compare to Tatis, his arm doesn’t compare to Tatis’s cannon and his power doesn’t compare. Oh, and he PROJECTS to have average defense. Tatis projected to above average. The 2 of them are not even a comparison.
@Javia … EXACTLY. Why can’t people understand that prospect rankings and even minor league scouting reports don’t mean squat.
Padres have a legitimate shot at playoffs this year. He’ll be in the bullpen anyways. He can be a very dangerous arm. Similar to what Corbin Burnes was supposed to be when Milwaukee put him in the pen a couple years ago. I love the move.
Padres have so many good bullpen arms, they don’t need to put him in high leverage situations right away, let him earn it, no pressure.
@andrewgauldin- If a trade were to happen regarding Patino and other pieces it will be more likely to happen at the trade deadline next season( Lindor could just be a possibility for the Padres)
I never said anything remotely close to implying the Padres trading Patino. That was a few other people. I actually hope the Padres keep him long term.
youre promoting the guy from A+ to a bullpen that’s already pretty good. i really dont see the need.
“… to a bullpen that’s already pretty good.”
Bruh have you been watching the Padres this year?
And? The kid can pitch. If he couldn’t the scouts and coaches and analytic department wouldn’t recommend him. I like the move, young power arm. Reminds me of what Oakland did with Luzardo last year and what they’re doing with him and Puk this year
those two had more high minors experience when they were promoted though.
If you like moving guys to the bigs who haven’t even seen AA (7.2 IP), then I seriously have to question how long you’ve followed baseball.
Preller is an idiot. Analytics departments don’t know squat about the game, and I doubt many scouts and coaches were in favor of this move.
Could you be wrong, HotDawg?
Nope, he can’t. Just like wcr, Pads Fans/koamalu/outinleftfield, nowheretogobutup or All American Johnsonville Dogs.
Yes, I could be. But history and probability are in my favor.
Nah, using him out of the bullpen in low pressure situations is perfect for him to get his feet wet.
Padres RP is not doing so well might as well see what the kid can do now
can’t be worse than most of what the Padres have now
Yes!
Including Patino, seven of the 10 homegrown players on the Padres 40-man were signed in 2016.
Love this stat!
Glad to see the promotion! Will see what the kid can do.
Why not promote Gore? He’s definitely ready!
They need to find stability from the right side of the pen.
Pomeranz and Hill have provided production as lefties but they definitely need more production for right handers.
Got it. Thanks for the clarification
I think Gore sits low 90s and can touch mid 90s, whereas Patino sits mid 90s and can probably hit like 98/99 out of the pen. Patino’s slider is also a real wipe-out pitch, whereas I think Gore has an overall more complete repertoire, relying on the curve and change-up more.
Basically my guess would be that out of the pen they think that Patino’s fastball/slider combo is going to play up against righties until there is a spot for him in the rotation. Not that Gore couldn’t also be a useful reliever, but he fits more of the prototypical starter mold, whereas Patino right now has tools like an elite reliever so might as well use him there for the time being.
Word is, Patiño has been absolutely dominating camp, lights out. Made the call up an easy decision, and why not give Gore more time until more pitching is needed.
An easy decision, based on camp. OK, got it.
I would guess what others have said. Gore will be up when there is a spot in the rotation for him.
Gore is not ready not showing well in tune ups thus far
What would Patino do this Summer otherwise, practice?
May as well get him some innings in front of big league talent.
So you aren’t taking the season seriously, either?
I am a fan of starting young arms in the bullpen (like Chris Sale, Garrett Richards, etc … or to go further back, Pat Hentgen and David Wells). Gives the kids a chance to adapt to the big-league spotlight without the added starter pressure. Then, once they have acclimated to the travel / media / fans / food / etc, they can focus on starting.
Acclimated to food? Fans aren’t an issue this season. I don’t believe there is media briefings either.
Its a great time for Patino to get some work in.
David Wells?
Dude is great on mlb the show 20 for me lol.
Oh. That means he’s a bona fide MLB star, right? Jeez.
He’s in that game? Nice to know they have up and coming younguns represented nowadays!
Myopic Padre fan thinks every prospect can’t miss
Only the stupid ones.
Preller is an absolute certified moron. This kid is not ready. Period.
I’m sure you know best.
Seriously, why can’t MLB GMs just do what is best for the team and do exactly what random fans online tell them to do?
Whatever you say man, Patino is better than at least three RP’s on the roster we have now…
Is he? 7ip in AA and you declare him ML-ready? I’m sure you know.
Of course Preller is moron and hiring no experience Tingler shows. Tingler brings him in last night against Dodgers? Give kid nice shot his 1st outing
1st batter faced was Bellinger, yikes! A softer landing spot may have been ideal… but this is a sprint!